We’re not Brasil we’re Tuaisceart Éireann

Trap junior wrote: How can you retire from club football to extend your intenational career? How does that work?

Don't know but trust me, anything is possible with that big galoot Lafferty!

For as I always say, "From the neck down, he's got total ability, but from the neck up, he's a total liability..."


Edited by Territorial - 29 Mar 2017 at 5:56pm

I was only half-joking. Laugherty hasn't started a single ECL game for Norwich this season.

How can you retire from club football to extend your intenational career? How does that work?

Territorial wrote: irishmufc wrote: grannyrule wrote: I have to say I admire the North. They have quite a very average set of players but they give everything they have got.   Because it's a mirror image of our side?   We do indeed have a very average set of players, but under Michael, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. As for the "mirror image", whilst you clearly have much greater strength in depth, were we to pick a combined team (I know, I know ), I honestly think we'd get five players in on quality - McAuley, Evans, Cathcart, Brunt and Davis - and if Shane Long were unavailable, Conor Washington shouldn't be too far away either, the way he's going. (This time two years ago, Big Kyle Lafferty would have been a shoo-in, Long or no, but he has deteriorated horribly, to the extent that he can't even get in our team.)

grannyrule wrote: I have to say I admire the North. They have quite a very average set of players but they give everything they have got.

 

gspain wrote: Norway were swatted away like a Germany or Spain would do to a side like that.  It was impressive in that it was so easy and comfortable.  Those wishing to draw them in the playoffs may need to be careful what they wish for.   Nice tribute to Ryan McBride.

I'd take Northern Ireland over Italy or Portugal.

Anyway I don't think any Ireland fan should be thinking of a play off at this stage with top spot up for grabs.

@Conormac77

Give the devil his due. That was a great win for them in a potential bananaskin and I think they're definite favourites for second place in that group.

The North play to their strengths, O'Neill is a very intelligent manager clearly.

They're strong in defence arguably better then us with their defensive partnership, pack it with Cathcart it's nearly impossible to break down and hope to catch you from a set piece or counter attack, the addition of Washington plays to that strength in particular.

In saying that, they'd still be one of the sides if were second I'd prefer us to get. Okay, it would be nasty affair on and off the pitch in sections but it would be better then a lot of other teams.

They just can't grow on me, seeing Israel flags this evening in the stadium for example. Shear number of Union Jacks. Large sections of their support just haven't moved on.

gazurtoids wrote: Would O'Neill leave in the Summer for someone like a Leicester ? that win tonight puts them in a great playoff position (how they're doing it with that dogsh*t group of players in a mystery) .....but would he go with just a couple games to go.....a job like Leicester won't come around often to him

To answer your question about them sitting in a play-off spot with that group of players...the qualifying group group is also dogsh*t!

Remember, the Czechs are a shadow of the side they had a decade ago ie no players like Nedved, Rosicky, Baros etc and Norway have recently sacked their manager while the fact that NI were able to thrash Azerbaijan 4-0 tells you all you need to know about them.

For the 2nd campaign in a row, NI have been lucky enough to be drawn in a group full of equally ordinary sides. Would have been interesting to see how they would have got in, say, group A...

Edited by ConorMac77 - 26 Mar 2017 at 10:45pm